A/N: SM does, I don't. I'm trying my best to deal with it.

Had a great response to the last chapter, but just fell short of the 200 mark. I know we're going to bust that this time.

This chapter is short and is strictly Edward's perspective on the Open Mic performance and his proposal. In other words, it repeats from last chapter, but with a whole new view. Don't worry, I'm not in the habit of doing this and next chapter the story will once again move forward. It was just important for dear Veggie to have his say in all this.

More at the bottom.

On we go.

Chapter 11

I'm Gonna Make It All Right

~Edward~

Convincing Garrett, the stage manager, to let me do a second song with Jasper & Emmett was not as difficult as I thought. He did remember me, and I reminded him of the time Dawn Eclipse did a double set at Battle of the Bands when one of the bands pulled out at the last minute and we saved the show. I think he knew that the talent pool for Open Mic was a bit thin this year, so to have us finish the show was a coup. I just hoped that we could pull it off having not performed together for so long.

When Jasper and Emmett joined me on stage, I made a quick search to see if I could see where the girls were sitting, but the lights shining on the stage prevented me from seeing more than a few rows out into the crowd. Emmett sat down at the drums and said something about it being a long time since he'd had to stare at my ass, and that seemed to alleviate any tension there might have been.

I was surprised by how easily we fell into our groove again. The song was familiar to us, and it was as if we had never been away from each other musically. I sometimes wondered if we could have made a career out of music as a band, but we were all determined to go to college so we could get 'real jobs' to fall back on if the band didn't work out. School eventually took over and became a priority. Jasper became a lawyer, Emmett got his MBA and started buying businesses, and I went into teaching. I was the only one who stayed close to music. Our bassist, Mike Newton was on a football scholarship so that took over all of his time. He eventually became a high school football coach. We had not seen him since college, but Jazz, Emmett, and I jammed every now and then.

The time on stage with Jasper and Emmett was amazing. It was as if we had never been away from it. I had forgotten what a rush it was to perform to an audience of that size, and it was made better by having my brother and my best friend there with me. Jasper played the guitar solo perfectly, and he still had a voice to rival mine. Emmett pounded out the beat like he was a true rock star. I was surprised that there seemed to be some people who remembered Dawn Eclipse, although we were quite the local celebrities in our day.

The second we finished the last song, I knew that 'someday' had come. I was singing the words and all I could think was that I wanted to make it right, and I had to do it then. I originally thought that my proposal to Bella would be a very private moment; whether it was at the park during the fireworks or a more elaborate, extremely well planned affair at home, it would just be her and me.

Bella was inherently shy and any public attention focused on her would be unwelcome, and could possibly have a detrimental affect on the outcome I was looking for. So, I asked her without saying the words. The crowd could draw their own conclusions regarding my awkward little speech at the end of our performance. The important thing was that I knew Bella would understand. My only hope was that the message came across as sincerely as I meant it without her being right in front of me.

I am sure that if I had gone with a set plan, my nerves would have taken over, and I would have fumbled through it awkwardly. I was realizing quickly, that doing things off-the-cuff had benefits at times. I was not nervous at all. I just said what I had to say and tried once again to search for her in the crowd, but those damn lights just made it impossible.

Of course, the audience did not know what happened and it made it a bit awkward getting off the stage. That is when the reality of what I had done set in. Would Bella be mad at me for doing it like that? Would she still be waiting for me when I got back up to where we were sitting? Was it too soon? Had I totally misinterpreted what today had meant to both of us? My hair took the brunt of my anxiety as I pulled my fingers through it repeatedly. The lack of nervousness I felt when saying the words was quickly overridden by a completely new level of anxiety over whether working without a plan was a huge mistake.

I tried to bolt as soon as we were done, but Garrett said it was likely that either the band or I would win so we should stick around to find out. All I wanted to do was to get to Bella, but Jasper was the voice of reason.

"Edward, relax man," he said calmly as I paced around back stage listening to the different levels of applause as the contestants were announced and the crowd's reaction was measured.

"Relax?" I asked incredulously. "You do realize I just asked Bella to marry me, right? Except, I didn't say the words." I walked in circles willing the results process for the competition to be over. "Fuck!"

"Ed, why is this a big deal?" Emmett asked. I looked at him as if he was from another planet.

"Seriously, Emmett? You're asking why this is a big deal?"

"Well, yeah, I mean it's not like she's gonna say no. You guys have been together forever, and it's obvious she loves you and you love her."

"Emmett, that's the whole point, she might say no. We have spent pretty much this whole day talking about talking and using our words and communicating to avoid misunderstandings like the clusterfuck that has been my life for the past two months. After all that, I go and do this. Saying that of all things, without saying it at all. She's either going to run into my arms and profess her undying love for me, or, more likely, she's going to be gone by the time I get back to her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." I had worked myself into such a state by the time I finished my rant, I felt like I might pass out from hyperventilating.

Garrett appeared and must have thought I was stressing over the results of the competition. At that moment, I really didn't give a fuck if Sony Records had wanted to sign us to a major record deal. I just wanted to get to Bella.

"Edward, you can relax now. You won. Here's your prize" He handed me an envelope with four season passes to the park for next year, shook my hand, and was gone again. That broke the tension somewhat as we all started laughing, but I was still on the verge of a complete breakdown.

Jasper placed his hand on my shoulder and an instant wave of calm came over me.

"Edward, I know I told you this morning that I didn't think it was the best idea for you to ask Bella to marry you today after what you've been through." His voice was low, quiet, and incredibly soothing. Emmett stepped in closer so he could hear, placing his arms around Jasper's shoulders and mine. It appeared as if we were in a football huddle. "But I have to say, there's something different about you guys today. It's like there's a glowing light around the two of you. It hasn't been like that for a long time."

"Ah, fuck. You're not gonna start talking about auras and shit again are you, Jazz? I thought you gave up on all that yoga, mantra, tantric bullshit." Jasper and I rolled our eyes at each other then he directed his glare to Emmett.

"No, Emmett. I didn't give any of it up. This has nothing to do with auras. I just think they have found something that they lost. And by the way, I do the 'yoga, mantra, tantric bullshit' because my job is stressful and I need a means of relaxation and release." He sounded indignant at Emmett's accusations, but my brother being who he is just could not pass up one more opportunity to tease Jasper.

"Um…isn't that counter-productive? I thought the whole tantric thing was about withholding release…like Sting having days-long sex. Seems to me it's the total opposite of getting a release." Emmett chuckled and I couldn't help join him half-heartedly as my brain continued to churn with all the disastrous possibilities that could be awaiting me.

Jasper huffed. "Emmett, tantra is not only about sex, it's about…"

"Could we have this discussion another time?" I interjected. "I'd really like to go find out if I'm engaged or single."

We left the stage and began to make our way through the exiting crowd back to where the girls were sitting. Jasper kept his hand on my shoulder the whole time, and I became calmer with every step we took. He kept whispering in my ear about all the progress Bella and I had made today and how I could still ask her to marry me properly. I did not quite believe in all the stuff Jazz did, but there was definitely some kind of energy passing from him to me.

As we approached where the girls were supposed to be, I began to panic. I could see Alice and Rosalie in a deep discussion, but I could not see Bella. Once again, Jasper's calming influence came over me as he pointed further along the hill. Bella was doing her own walk in circles just like I had done and she appeared to be having a very animated conversation with herself.

I took it as a good sign that she was still here and grabbed my knapsack from the pile of our belongings by Alice and Rosalie. I hoped I would need what was tucked safely in a side pocket.

"You know crazy people talk to themselves," I purred in her ear as I came up behind her and grabbed her waist. Bella jumped, but she seemed to calm quickly when she realized it was me. My heart was pounding furiously in my chest and I felt anything but calm.

"You surprised me," she said. I knew she wasn't talking about me making her jump.

She turned in my arms and I could see a sparkle in her eye and a hint of a smile play across her lips.

I laughed. "I know. I surprised myself." A comfortable silence surrounded us before I continued. "Just so you know, there was a plan." She laughed. She knew there had to be a plan of some sort. "I had the perfect proposal in mind, and it was going to take place here. I'd been planning it since last year; the mountain, fireworks…the whole deal."

"So why did you…I mean…at the beach you said…" I could almost see the scene from that night replaying for her. My words now were a definite contradiction to what they were then.

"Shh. I know. But, you know what I'm like when my plans are interfered with." We both laughed and she nodded. I did not want to replay this again. I hoped we had moved past it.

"Depending on how today went, I was going to follow through with that plan. The Open Mic thing came up, and I was going to 'woo' you some more." I stroked her sides gently, trying to transfer some of the calm Jasper had given me to her.

"I have learned today, that things change, circumstances change, and therefore, plans must change too. I'm learning to be spontaneous. That's a good thing, right?" I smiled and she bit her lip. She was so damn sexy when she did that. I had to pause for a moment to collect my thoughts and make sure I didn't screw this up. I had to use my words. No implied meanings or any possibility for misunderstanding could occur.

"Bella, there was never a time in the last ten years where I didn't see a future with you. I was ALWAYS going to do this. I guess I just got in the way of myself in trying to make it everything I planned. Today has been one of the best days I can ever remember having with you. It's right up there with that first time here, when you wouldn't let me say 'I love you'. I have loved you since I was fifteen years old and I don't see that changing any time soon. I want nothing more than for you to be my wife and my partner forever." I stepped back and pulled my knapsack from my shoulder. I fumbled in the side pocket for the small box and threw the bag on the ground when I had the box in my hand. Slowly, I knelt down on one knee in front of her. "So, Bella, will you? Will you marry me?" I presented the box to her open in the palm of my hand. I could not wait to see it on her finger. I'd had it for so long, but the moment I bought it, I knew that the solitaire cushion cut diamond set with a platinum and diamond band would look exquisite on her delicate hand. Of course, part of the reason I had waited so long to propose, was that I refused to do it with a ring that was not completely paid for. I made the last payment the week before the beach debacle.

It seemed an eternity passed before Bella gave me any kind of acknowledgement. She finally started nodding her head and eventually I heard a barely audible, "Yes".

Alice nearly blew my eardrums out as she squealed when I took the ring out of the box and slid it on Bella's ring finger. My heart rate finally slowed as I brought her hand to my lips and kissed the ring I had just placed there.

Slowly she withdrew her hand from mine and laid it on the side of my cheek. I was fighting to hold back my tears. Even though they were tears of joy, I still didn't like Bella seeing my cry, and I tried to pull away. Bella wouldn't let me and instead placed both her hands on my cheeks and wiped my tears with her thumbs. She was crying too, and for the first time ever, I think, we stood and watched each other cry.

"Don't try to hide anymore, Edward. I love you." She whispered through her tears, before pulling me down to her giving me the softest, sweetest kiss that held more promise than any kiss we had ever shared.

End Note: Many thanks to super beta and my cyber bestie Suzie55. I love her. That is all.

Thanks sscana for the preread and sorry I made you cry again…hehe.

For Your Amusement has been nominated for a Hidden Gem Award as part of the Twinklings First Annual Walk of Fame Awards. You can see all the nominees here:

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Come play with me and Vegward on Twitter... Cilla_1970 and Vegward. He may be engaged, but he's a merciless flirt.

Much love

Cilla